I'm very excited about joining you for 'A Place of Greater Safety'!
Also, you're doing such a lovely service to readers (and writers) by sharing the list of other slow reads across Substack. It's really nice to see this kind of generosity and inclusiveness.
Looking forward to these reads. I love the idea of meditative reading. The slow read of wolf hall this year has given me pockets of mental rest. I'll be interested to see what next year feels like - the only one I've read is Things Fall Apart. I think Siege is part of a trilogy (maybe loosely themed rather than sequential) so I've reserved the first volume from my library to read before we get started.
As for Hilary, you know how I feel about her writing. When she says she wanted to create a book you could live inside I think immediately of Wolf Hall and how I could live inside those books with ease. So she did it more than once. Her shorter fiction follows me about too, I think of The Giant O'Brien often. Her writing was a gift. It's great to be sharing it here.
I was worried I'd break Mantel's books by reading them slowly. That worry seems foolish now.
The JG Farrell trilogy are loosely thematically linked. I haven't read the other two yet. All three of these picks are idiosyncratic, which is what you get when you follow Mantel's advice!
That's a brilliant historical novel. You end up vanishing into the eighteenth century and then stagger out after it's finished back into the modern world. I wrote a long review of it years ago and I've been meaning to write a second post on the story behind the writing and publication of the book.
It's an incredible book. I'd love to read your post. It looks like I've signed myself up to write 20 posts about it next year! Do you fancy joining us for the slow read?
Next year was going to be a full on year of study for me, I would have had the time I suspect to read APOGS but none of the others. Now circumstances mean that study has been at the very least postponed and I am very much looking forward to joining in with all the new reads. These will mean I still have something I can focus on and develop from and even better with chat to join in with. Thank you very much Simon for providing this.
I am very happy with both situations, exchanging mental health books for these books I think is what is needed for 2025. First two books for read along are ordered 😊(this is when my old copy of APOGS turns up) but I guess you can't have too many!
I first read A Place of Greater Safety in 2020, as the pandemic was closing in around us. All around me both in reality and in the book, there was this growing sense of dread that I haven't been able to shake whenever I think of this book. Which is strange, because I was reading The Mirror and the Light at the same time, and the pandemic dread didn't affect my reading of that at all.
I think I’ve built up the courage to come back to A Place of Greater Safety now. Especially since I'll have a good guide to take me through it. ❤️
Yes! I was listening to APoGS on audiobook in my car, and reading the hardback copy of TMatL at home. They were about different enough time periods that I didn't get them mixed up at all. My enduring memory of TMatL is sitting down to read a little bit, and getting sucked into the narrative and finishing the second half in one afternoon. When I got to the end, I looked up and out the window and was shocked to discover that, instead of a hot English summer of 1540, a snowy April evening in Nebraska was out there.
What intrigues me about Mantel is her preparedness to consider historical events from an alternate point of view, and with astonishing empathy, it seems. As a writer tackling WW2 fiction, especially when your historical culture is that of the 'winning' side, it's so easy to slip into a comfortable victor mentality position. Of course, everyone joins the Resistance!
Yes, she had a great eye for finding the interesting story. Always be wary of the easy, simple narrative, especially when we're dealing with history. That also means making the reader feel uncomfortable and taking them to places they hadn't anticipated.
Paid subscriber here! Well worth the investment in Simon’s commentaries as well as all the insights of fellow readers. I’m looking forward to2025 as we slowly wrap up War and Peace at the end of December. It has gone by so fast!
Very VERY excited about APOGS, which I've never read. For all sorts of personal (and not very interesting, I'm not trying to be all mysterious or anything) reasons, 18th century France sits deep within my soul. It will be hard to wait until May though, so I might just have to join in with the Siege of Krishnapur as well, which I was going to skip. I'll miss the W&P gang too much - I hope they're all planning to stick around!
Ha that does sound mysterious! I think different people will stick around for different books. So if we don't see you for Siege, we will link up again in May.
You had me at "I invite you to join us in 2025..."
Haha, wonderful!
I'm very excited about joining you for 'A Place of Greater Safety'!
Also, you're doing such a lovely service to readers (and writers) by sharing the list of other slow reads across Substack. It's really nice to see this kind of generosity and inclusiveness.
My pleasure. Other readalong providers are available! 😅
Looking forward to these reads. I love the idea of meditative reading. The slow read of wolf hall this year has given me pockets of mental rest. I'll be interested to see what next year feels like - the only one I've read is Things Fall Apart. I think Siege is part of a trilogy (maybe loosely themed rather than sequential) so I've reserved the first volume from my library to read before we get started.
As for Hilary, you know how I feel about her writing. When she says she wanted to create a book you could live inside I think immediately of Wolf Hall and how I could live inside those books with ease. So she did it more than once. Her shorter fiction follows me about too, I think of The Giant O'Brien often. Her writing was a gift. It's great to be sharing it here.
I was worried I'd break Mantel's books by reading them slowly. That worry seems foolish now.
The JG Farrell trilogy are loosely thematically linked. I haven't read the other two yet. All three of these picks are idiosyncratic, which is what you get when you follow Mantel's advice!
That's a brilliant historical novel. You end up vanishing into the eighteenth century and then stagger out after it's finished back into the modern world. I wrote a long review of it years ago and I've been meaning to write a second post on the story behind the writing and publication of the book.
It's an incredible book. I'd love to read your post. It looks like I've signed myself up to write 20 posts about it next year! Do you fancy joining us for the slow read?
Next year was going to be a full on year of study for me, I would have had the time I suspect to read APOGS but none of the others. Now circumstances mean that study has been at the very least postponed and I am very much looking forward to joining in with all the new reads. These will mean I still have something I can focus on and develop from and even better with chat to join in with. Thank you very much Simon for providing this.
Well I hope that you are happy with the study situation! We are all happy with the reading situation!
I am very happy with both situations, exchanging mental health books for these books I think is what is needed for 2025. First two books for read along are ordered 😊(this is when my old copy of APOGS turns up) but I guess you can't have too many!
FANTASTIC!!!
Count me enthusiastic! Love Mantel and weirdly, I haven't read this one. Really looking forward to another great slow read with your great self Simon!
Brilliant, Susan! This one scares me quite a bit – but not as much as Beyond Black!
Wonderful idea Simon.
Thanks David!
I first read A Place of Greater Safety in 2020, as the pandemic was closing in around us. All around me both in reality and in the book, there was this growing sense of dread that I haven't been able to shake whenever I think of this book. Which is strange, because I was reading The Mirror and the Light at the same time, and the pandemic dread didn't affect my reading of that at all.
I think I’ve built up the courage to come back to A Place of Greater Safety now. Especially since I'll have a good guide to take me through it. ❤️
Wait... You read APOGS and TM&TL at the same time?! 🤯
Yes! I was listening to APoGS on audiobook in my car, and reading the hardback copy of TMatL at home. They were about different enough time periods that I didn't get them mixed up at all. My enduring memory of TMatL is sitting down to read a little bit, and getting sucked into the narrative and finishing the second half in one afternoon. When I got to the end, I looked up and out the window and was shocked to discover that, instead of a hot English summer of 1540, a snowy April evening in Nebraska was out there.
You’re a hero, Simon! Really looking forward to this read!
Thank you, Kristine! Fantastic.
I. Must. Read. This. Book! I felt my cheeks burn as I read your account of Mantel's approach to 'A Place of Greater Safety'. This is so exciting!
THIS. BOOK. HAUNTS. ME.
I bet it does.
What intrigues me about Mantel is her preparedness to consider historical events from an alternate point of view, and with astonishing empathy, it seems. As a writer tackling WW2 fiction, especially when your historical culture is that of the 'winning' side, it's so easy to slip into a comfortable victor mentality position. Of course, everyone joins the Resistance!
I am really looking forward to this.
Yes, she had a great eye for finding the interesting story. Always be wary of the easy, simple narrative, especially when we're dealing with history. That also means making the reader feel uncomfortable and taking them to places they hadn't anticipated.
Exactly.
Love these choices! Can’t wait.
Thank you! I'm very excited!
I have joined your army of followers. Looking forward to everything, but particularly Mantel and Achebe.
👍 let's not say followers, it sounds too like a cult! Fellow readers will serve just as well. I'm looking forward to these too! Welcome onboard!
Paid subscriber here! Well worth the investment in Simon’s commentaries as well as all the insights of fellow readers. I’m looking forward to2025 as we slowly wrap up War and Peace at the end of December. It has gone by so fast!
What a year! Thanks, Claudia!
Very VERY excited about APOGS, which I've never read. For all sorts of personal (and not very interesting, I'm not trying to be all mysterious or anything) reasons, 18th century France sits deep within my soul. It will be hard to wait until May though, so I might just have to join in with the Siege of Krishnapur as well, which I was going to skip. I'll miss the W&P gang too much - I hope they're all planning to stick around!
Ha that does sound mysterious! I think different people will stick around for different books. So if we don't see you for Siege, we will link up again in May.
I love these options. I can see my next few years mapped out with your slow reads. I believe it will be the Cromwell trilogy for me.
Awesome! Writing the Cromwell guides has been a highlight of my year. I'll be polishing them up next year, so they will be even better!